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PONANT, a leading luxury expedition cruising company, has announced the appointment of Chris Hall as Chief Executive Officer for the Asia Pacific region, alongside the creation of new departments to support the company’s expansion. As the Australian headquarters for PONANT enters an exciting growth phase, Hall’s experience in global tour operation, river cruises, expeditions and distribution will perfectly align with the company’s ‘Explore to Inspire’ global strategic plan.

The PONANT Chairman for Asia Pacific, Sarina Bratton AM, expressed her confidence in Hall’s appointment, saying that he will bring an additional level of experience to the company’s international executive committee and global operations. With the newly created departments, PONANT’s Asia Pacific team will be able to expand even further and enhance guest experiences with luxury exploration and expedition offerings.

One of the new departments is the Maritime Operations and Logistics Department, which will ensure the smooth operation of PONANT’s fleet, the largest and most technically advanced in the luxury expedition sector. Another is the Expedition and Destination Development Area, which will introduce new product roles to enhance guest enrichment and pre and post-touring offers. These departments will work together to offer an exceptional level of service to PONANT’s guests and strengthen the company’s partnerships in the region.

Hall’s appointment comes as PONANT plans to accelerate its range of experiences across the APAC business through additional ship deployment. This includes the recently refurbished sailing yacht Le Ponant and the world’s only luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot, which departed from New Zealand for the first time on February 14, 2023, following a successful past guest, trade & media event onboard. These vessels will join Le Lapérouse and Le Soléal, which have operated locally for several years.

With the benefit of a proven operational and sales & marketing team in APAC, led by co-General Managers, Deb Corbett and Maxime Farrenq, Hall is confident that PONANT can explore new opportunities to enhance guest experiences and bring trade partners even stronger results. He said, “From a wider company perspective, The PONANT Group is positioned for successful growth, and I look forward to making a significant contribution.”

In conclusion, PONANT’s expansion in the Asia Pacific region with the appointment of Chris Hall and the creation of new departments reflects the company’s commitment to offering exceptional luxury expedition and exploration experiences to guests. With its newest and most technically advanced fleet, PONANT is poised for further market growth potential and continued success in the luxury expedition sector.